Ayton traded again?

[zzaj]

This topic is so unbelievably RealGM...

4 pages of "discussing" a trade that makes no sense for either team.

If Portland had a straight expiring for Ayton, I think it makes sense for them. Honestly, I kinda like that Hayward for Ayton idea.

In a broader sense maybe...but the Blazers need a Center of some kind and they don't really have one if they trade Ayton. Certainly not a starting quality Center. If Jabari is gone too that is basically every NBA (barely) quality big they have.

If they were tanking and being the worst team in the league guaranteed getting Flagg next year, then maybe I see it. But otherwise I just don't from a management POV.

If it was me running the team, Ayton wouldn't be a Blazer in the first place.

[Wizenheimer]

after the junk the Warriors pulled after the Payton trade last season I really doubt the two teams front offices would be dealing with each other

[JRoy]

Hardest of passes unless Portland is adding some serious incentive

I am confident that Portland feels the same (but in reverse)... so this idea is assuredly DOA.

I would be stunned if Portland turned down Paul for Ayton. And if they did, it would be a very expensive mistake on their part.

Assuming Brogdon could be moved for value I would love that deal.

[Myth]

Haven’t read the whole thread (just the first couple pages), but here are my thoughts from my perspective as a Blazer fan:

I understand Ayton doesn’t seem to have positive value around the league, and Portland is so thin at center that he likely has more value to us than other teams, and that combo almost always means they aren’t getting moved. I don’t love or hate Ayton, but I do think his serviceable play is good for the development of Scoot running point over a guy like Duop who mostly floats out to the perimeter. So without positive value coming back, I’m pretty firmly against a trade meant simply to dump him.

Another point I agree with that I have seen here is not wanting to help Warriors this year. Getting a serviceable player for an injured Chris Paul could easily backfire in terms of the pick Warriors owe us. Wiggins for Ayton may be more of a toss up for this season, but he comes with an extra year of potentially bad money.

One thing I did not see mentioned in the first couple pages is I don’t see Paul as making zero sense for Portland. In fact, I’d love to see him coaching Scoot while he is injured if he is willing to take on that role. But despite liking that idea, I don’t think the trade is worth losing our only starting caliber center.

[RTG HD]

Hardest of passes unless Portland is adding some serious incentive

I am confident that Portland feels the same (but in reverse)... so this idea is assuredly DOA.

I would be stunned if Portland turned down Paul for Ayton. And if they did, it would be a very expensive mistake on their part.

Ok, I guess be stunned. The Blazers are not in need of cap space right now and Ayton is not as terrible as people make him out to be. I get that RW3 is better when healthy but let's not kid ourselves. Now would be a terrible time to sell on Ayton anyway.

[hcsilla]

We saw Golden State take Wiggins who everyone was convinced was awful, overpaid and a losing player and win a title with him.

No, Golden State got a lottery pick (turned into Kuminga) to take Wiggins. Big difference.

[hcsilla]

Portland is really bad, and if Ayton is their best player, they probably aren't interested in dumping him even if he's overpaid.

Portland is really bad bot not that bad that Ayton would be their best player.

[JMAC3]

We saw Golden State take Wiggins who everyone was convinced was awful, overpaid and a losing player and win a title with him.

No, Golden State got a lottery pick (turned into Kuminga) to take Wiggins. Big difference.

Sure but my point was Golden State was probably seen as a winner even without factoring in Kuminga. Wiggins was the 2nd best player on a title team after we heard he was awful, not worth his contract etc...

I agree Ayton is overpaid, shouldn't be counted on to be the 2nd or 3rd best player, but if he is your 4th player then yeah he is pretty good regardless of pay.

Warriors are going to have to take some chances that aren't pretty to support Steph right now. There is no easy answer to how they are a consistent playoff team.

[JMAC3]

Ayton is similar to Porzingis. He was overpaid and not worth keeping around for Wizards, but as the 2nd highest player on the Celtics we aren't sitting around talking about how he is overpaid and Celtics cap is too high etc...

[Warriors Analyst]

Ayton is similar to Porzingis. He was overpaid and not worth keeping around for Wizards, but as the 2nd highest player on the Celtics we aren't sitting around talking about how he is overpaid and Celtics cap is too high etc...

A key difference here: Ayton has played on a contender before. Ayton was very good in the 2021 playoffs. But by the 2023 playoffs, he was getting played off of the court and getting replaced -- very well -- by Jock Lansdale. It was widely known that Ayton was miserable playing for a contending team. A relatively unproven and overpaid player actively looking to get off of a contending team is a HUGE red flag.

[JMAC3]

Ayton is similar to Porzingis. He was overpaid and not worth keeping around for Wizards, but as the 2nd highest player on the Celtics we aren't sitting around talking about how he is overpaid and Celtics cap is too high etc...

A key difference here: Ayton has played on a contender before. Ayton was very good in the 2021 playoffs. But by the 2023 playoffs, he was getting played off of the court and getting replaced -- very well -- by Jock Lansdale. It was widely known that Ayton was miserable playing for a contending team. A relatively unproven and overpaid player actively looking to get off of a contending team is a HUGE red flag.

Ayton also was a key member of getting Suns to finals. Him and Monty Williams didn't get along.

Meanwhile Monty is destroying what little hope Pistons had, Ayton is on a bottom 5 team.

It is funny how losing players always end up playing for losing teams isn't it. You have to wonder if Michael Porter Jr, Darius Garland, Jaylen Brown etc are looked at completely different if they didn't play with elite teammates. Put those guys on Portland and we are probably having a different conversation about them.

Same with Simons, if he played for Miami he would probably be loved but because he plays for a bad team he is an empty stats guy.

[Mike lorenzo]

I would like to see him in the Bulls. Vuc/Lonzo+Blazers FRP for Ayton ??
The Blazers save future money, get their pick back and get a veteran center to cover the position.

Bulls get a young center to join their young core White/PWill

[JRoy]

If thats Aytons value we may as well keep him. Ball is $20 million dead salary next year, Vooch is trashed and POR pick is pretty much SRP.